🔥 Gündem Headies Award 2026: Full Nomination List Revealed

The Headies Awards, a prominent recognition of excellence in African music and culture, have announced the nominees for their 18th edition, scheduled to take place on October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada ¹²⁵. The theme for this year's awards is "Africa to the World" ⁵.

Nigerian music stars such as Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy have secured multiple nominations, alongside other notable artists like Asake, Rema, Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr, Fola, and Mavo ¹²³⁵. The nominations span various categories, highlighting both established Afrobeats artists and emerging talents ⁸.

Key Nominees and Categories

While a full, exhaustive list across all categories is extensive, several artists have garnered significant attention for their multiple nominations:

• Davido: Received multiple nominations, underscoring his continued influence in the African music scene ¹².
• Wizkid: Also secured multiple nominations, reaffirming his status as a global music icon ¹²³.
• Burna Boy: Featured prominently with numerous nominations, reflecting his international success and impact ¹²³.
• Asake: A strong contender across several categories, representing the new wave of Afrobeats talent ³⁵.
• Rema: Noted for his nominations, showcasing his growing global appeal ³⁵.
• Tiwa Savage: Recognized for her contributions to African music ³.
• Ayra Starr: Among the nominees, highlighting the rising female voices in the industry ⁵.
• Fola and Mavo: Also received nominations, indicating their emerging presence ³⁵.

The Headies aims to celebrate the diverse and vibrant landscape of African music, bringing together artists from various genres and backgrounds ⁴⁸.

Special Recognition

In addition to the competitive categories, Cecil Hammond is slated to receive the Special Recognition Award at the 2026 ceremony ⁵.

The "Next Rated" Category

One of the most anticipated categories is "Next Rated," which recognizes promising new artists. Historically, winners of this award receive not only a plaque but also a significant prize. In 2022, the Headies announced that the "Next Rated" recipient would be gifted a brand new 2022 Bentley Bentayga, valued at over N300 million, a substantial upgrade from previous SUV prizes ⁷. The nominees for this specific category are always a hot topic of discussion, as it often signals the next big star in African music.